EMA charity run is now full

Entries have now reached capacity for a unique family sports event around parts of East Midlands Airport which are usually reserved for staff members only.

Two thousand places were available for the EMA Run on Sunday November 27 which have now all been taken and many more are in a waiting list – hoping to take up cancelled places in the run up to the event. The EMA Run – consisting of a time-chipped 10k and 2k family run - coincides with the closure of the airport for a runway refurbishment programme when the airport will be closed for seven consecutive 48 hour closures in November and December to enable the runway to be resurfaced.

East Midlands Airport has teamed up with Derby-based HUUB Events to organise the event with several other local companies coming on board to support. House building and construction group Galliford Try are sponsoring the 2k family run and other event partners include Skechers, Springs Cleaning company, MBS Construction and Jewson and High 5 Nutrition.

With all the places taken, efforts are concentrating on maximising support for the event’s official charity, CLIC Sargent – the UK’s leading charity for helping children and young people with cancer. CLIC Sargent is East Midlands Airport’s corporate charity and so far more than £1,200 has been pledged by runners and in addition all proceeds for car parking on the day will be donated to the charity. All runners will register in the main airport departures terminal and then, starting at 10am, the first wave of 10k runners will be set off around the airport followed by the start of the 2k family race at 11.45am. Finishers of the 10k receive a commemorative EMA 10k running top and medal and finishers of the 2k will receive an EMA 2k medal.

Jack Kelly, Head of External Affairs East Midlands Airport, said: “When we started to plan the event, we hoped that the opportunity to take part in an event with the course taking in normally unseen parts of the airport site would be a popular lure amongst families and the running community. “However, the response to the EMA Run has been absolutely phenomenal with entries coming in at a rate of around 40 a day since we launched the online system. “The closure of the airport for the runway maintenance only happens every 15 to 20 years. It therefore gave us the opportunity to host a family running event which is ideal for people of all ages and abilities as part of our work to support our local communities and our corporate charity CLIC Sargent. “The course for both the 10k and 2k races has been carefully planned to give runners a unique experience in areas that would not be accessible if we were fully operational. “This is therefore a fantastic event and will be a great day of sport to raise money for a very worthy cause.”

HUUB Events Race Director Claire Duffin continued: “The fact that all the places were taken with six weeks to go before the event shows just how attractive this is to families and experienced 10k runners alike. “We have entries from right across the East Midlands and beyond and we are particularly pleased with the engagement of runners to raise money for CLIC Sargent.” “The closed 2k course is ideal for families of all ages to enter together and for novice or seasoned 10k-ers there are challenges but also plenty to see around the route.”